King James Version of the Bible

:This page is about the version of the Bible; for the Harvey Danger album, see King James Version (album).

The Project

In May 1601 King James VI of Scotland attended the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland at St. Columba's Church in Burntisland, Fife, and proposals were put forward for a new translation of the Bible into English. Two years later he acceded to the throne of England.

Related Topics:
James VI of Scotland - Church of Scotland - Burntisland - Fife

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The King James Version was first conceived at the Hampton Court conference, which the new king called in 1604 to settle various religious grievances. According to an eyewitness account, Dr John Rainolds "moved his majesty that there might be a new translation of the Bible, because those which were allowed in the reign of king Henry the Eight and Edward the Sixt were corrupt and not answerable to the truth of the original."

Related Topics:
Hampton Court - 1604 - John Rainolds

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Rainolds offered three examples of problems with existing translations: "First, Galatians iv. 25. The Greek word susoichei is not well translated as now it is, bordereth neither expressing the force of the word, nor the apostles sense, nor the situation of the place. Secondly, psalm cv. 28, ‘They were not obedient;’ the original being, ‘They were not disobedient.’ Thirdly, psalm cvi. 30, ‘Then stood up Phinees and prayed,’ the Hebrew hath, ‘executed judgment.’"

Related Topics:
Galatians - Psalm - Hebrew

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King James proposed that a new translation be commissioned to settle the controversies; he hoped a new translation would replace the Geneva Bible and its offensive notes in the popular esteem. After the Bishop of London added a qualification that no marginal notes were to be added to Rainold’s new Bible, the king cited two passages in the Geneva translation where he found the notes offensive. King James gave the translators instructions, which were designed to discourage polemical notes, and to guarantee that the new version would conform to the ecclesiology of the Church of England. Eventually four different editions of the King James Version were produced in 1629, 1638, 1762, and 1769. It is the 1769 edition which is most commonly cited as the King James Version (KJV).

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King James's instructions included requirements that:

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1) The ordinary Bible, read in the church, commonly called the Bishops' Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the original will permit....

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3) The old ecclesiastical words to be kept; as the word church, not to be translated congregation, &c.

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4) When any word hath divers significations, that to be kept which has been most commonly used by the most eminent fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place, and the analogy of the faith....

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6) No marginal notes at all to be affixed, but only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek words, which cannot, without some circumlocution, so briefly and fitly be expressed in the text.

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7) Such quotations of places to be marginally set down, as shall serve for the fit references of one scripture to another....

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13) These translations to be used when they agree better with the text than the Bishop's Bible, viz. Tyndale's, Coverdale's, Matthew's, Whitchurch, Geneva.

Related Topics:
Tyndale's - Coverdale's - Whitchurch - Geneva

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King James's instructions made it clear that he wanted the resulting translation to contain a minimum of controversial notes and apparati, and that he wanted the episcopal structure of the Established Church, and traditional beliefs about an ordained clergy to be reflected in the new translation. His order directed the translators to revise the Bishop's Bible, comparing other named English versions. It is for this reason that the flyleaves of most printings of the King James Bible observe that the text had been "translated out of the original tongues, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised (by His Majesty's special command.)" At least 80% of the King James New Testament is unaltered from Tyndale's translation.

Related Topics:
Episcopal - Ordained

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The King James Version was translated by 54 scholars (although only 51 are known) working in six committees, two based in each of Oxford University, Cambridge University, and Westminster. They worked on certain parts separately; then the drafts produced by each committee were compared and revised for harmony with each other. The scholars were not paid for their translation work, but were required to support themselves as best they could. Many were supported by the various colleges at Oxford and Cambridge.

Related Topics:
Oxford University - Cambridge University - Westminster

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Committees

:First Westminster Company, translating from Genesis to 2 Kings:

Related Topics:
Genesis - 2 Kings

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::Lancelot Andrewes, John Overall, Hadrian Saravia, Richard Clarke, John Laifield, Robert Tighe, Francis Burleigh, Geoffry King, Richard Thompson, William Bedwell

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:First Cambridge Company, translated from 1 Chronicles to the Song of Solomon:

Related Topics:
1 Chronicles - Song of Solomon

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::Edward Lively, John Richardson, Lawrence Chaderton, Francis Dillingham, Roger Andrews, Thomas Harrison, Robert Spaulding, Andrew Bing

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:First Oxford Company, translated Isaiah through Malachi

Related Topics:
Isaiah - Malachi

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::John Harding, John Reynolds, Thomas Holland, Richard Kilby, Miles Smith, Richard Brett, Daniel Fairclough

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:Second Oxford Company, translated the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation:

Related Topics:
Gospel - Acts of the Apostles - Book of Revelation

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::Thomas Ravis, George Abbot, Richard Eedes, Giles Tomson, Henry Savile, John Peryn, Ralph Ravens, John Harmar

Related Topics:
George Abbot - Henry Savile

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:Second Westminster Company, translated the Epistles:

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::William Barlow, John Spencer, Roger Fenton, Ralph Hutchinson, William Dakins, Michael Rabbet, Thomas Sanderson

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:Second Cambridge Company, translated the Apocrypha:

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::John Duport, William Brainthwaite, Jeremiah Radcliffe, Samuel Ward, Andrew Downes, John Bois, John Ward, John Aglionby, Leonard Hutten, Thomas Bilson, Richard Bancroft

Related Topics:
Samuel Ward - Richard Bancroft

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In January 1609 a General Committee of Review met at Stationers' Hall, London to review the completed manuscripts from the six companies. The committee included John Bois, Andrew Downes, John Harmer, and others known only by their initials, including "AL" (who may be Arthur Lake).

Related Topics:
1609 - Stationers' Hall, London - John Bois - Andrew Downes - John Harmer - Arthur Lake

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Some have claimed that the playwright William Shakespeare was involved in the translation, pointing to Psalms 46 as proof, where, counting 46 words from the beginning, one comes upon the word "shake", and counting 46 words backwards from the end, one comes upon the word "spear". Most scholars dismiss claims of Shakespeare's involvement in translating the King James Version, and in particular reject such purported evidence as this example. Notably, the Geneva Bible and several other earlier translations contained the same coincidence, despite several of them being published before or just shortly after Shakespeare's birth. http://av1611.com/kjbp/ridiculous-kjv-bible-corrections/psalm-46-Shakespeare-in-KJV.html

Related Topics:
William Shakespeare - Psalms

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The original printing of the King James Version was published by Robert Barker in 1611 and could be bought looseleaf for 10 s, or bound for 12 s.

Related Topics:
Robert Barker - Looseleaf - S

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